Victim staged shooting to get out of court date in Tuscaloosa

The Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit says a shooting on Tuesday was actually an attempt to get out of a court date.

Homicide investigators responded to 1350 James I Harrison Parkway around 9 a.m. on a shooting call. At the scene, they found 29-year-old Brandon Darrell Hamlett suffering from a gunshot wound to the hand. The victim told investigators he was walking to Watergate Apartments from Forrester Gardens to get his girlfriend a drink when an unknown black male shot him and ran.

Investigators found out the victim was due in court at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. After receiving treatment at DCH, the victim admitted he had a friend shoot him to keep from going to court.

Hamlett's injuries are not life threatening. The homicide unit says the case remains under investigation.